When we find ourselves in a difficult circumstance, something more than we are able to handle, we need to do what these capable men did, “The sons of Reuben, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh had forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty VALIANT MEN, men able to BEAR SHIELD AND SWORD, to SHOOT WITH THE BOW, and SKILLFUL IN WAR…They made war with the Hagrites… And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand…FOR THEY CRIED OUT TO GOD IN THE BATTLE. HE HEEDED THEIR PRAYER, BECAUSE THEY PUT THEIR TRUST IN GOD.” (1 Chron. 5:18-20)
The first nine chapters in the first book of Chronicles is Israel’s chronology. In the middle of the chronology is this IMPORTANT EVENT. Important because God wants to teach us to trust in Him, so He may allow us to be in a “challenging” situation that is more than we are able to bear, This happens so we will LEARN TO TRUST HIM! For example, in Mark chapter 4, Jesus was in a boat teaching and when evening came He said, “Let us cross over to the other side…And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that IT WAS ALREADY FILLING.” (Mark 4:35, 37) Where was Jesus when this was happening? “Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a pillow. The disciples woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, don’t you care we are about to drown?” (Mark 4:38)
These were experienced fishermen, they went through storms many times but this storm was “More than they could handle” and Jesus wanted them to TRUST IN HIM, “Then Jesus arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a GREAT CALM. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” The disciples were absolutely TERRIFIED. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey Him!” (Mark 4:39-41)
The weather immediately clears, and the disciples redirect their focus from FEAR TO FAITH; from STORMS TO JESUS, who commands peace, the man who, they now know, can control even the wind and the sea…
-Bill Stockham